Vikings Training Camp

Sunday was the day of our annual trip down to Mankato to see The Minnesota Vikings practice at training camp. We headed down to Mankato around 12:30 pm so we could see the 3-5 pm afternoon practice. This was my 4th time at camp. As always, it is so hot and humid. Vikings Training Camp 2008 runs from July 25-August 14 on the campus of Minnesota State University. For those who don't know how it works, the players are given bicycles to ride to and from the dorms for each practice. They cannot drive their cars at this time. After the practice on the field, the players walk across the street, go shower and then come out to their bike and ride back to the dorms. A lot of the fans wait at the building they come out of after the showers. At this time, the players will come up to the fans and give them autographs. Some of them stop and meet with the crowd every time, some don't stop at all and some alternate between each side of the building so it is a game as to who you are going to have the opportunity to see up close and personal that day. Last year when we were in training camp, Adrian Peterson hadn't signed yet so he wasn't there. He ended up signing the same day we left camp and got there the next day. Of course he was the highlight of all the fans there. EVERYONE wanted him to stop and chat and sign autographs for the fans. We were lucky be on the correct side of the building and to have seen him on Sunday. On Monday, we didn't even see him at all. He never came back out of the building so I am guessing he snuck out a different way to avoid the mob of fans. We got a great picture of him riding away on his bike...great except that the picture is blurry. It seemed like every picture we took of him was blurry. We don't get autographs while we are there. Everyone else wants them but we just like to get pictures of everyone. We can enjoy that more than an autograph. Below are some of the better photos we got of the players. I spared posting too many field pictures as they can all be the same and be boring if you aren't into football. Some of the players pictures below (in no particular order) are: Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor, Matt Birk, Garrett Mills, our newly acquired defensive end Jared Allen, Ray Edwards, Kenderick Allen, EJ and Erin Henderson, our newly acquired receiver Bernard Berrian, Marcus Johnson, Artis Hicks, Ryan Longwell, Chris Kluwe, Ellis Wyms and my favorite, Ben Leber. He's the one in the last player picture. I saved the best for last. Michael is my real boyfriend but Ben Leber is my "football boyfriend". :) On Sunday night we frequented the establishments of Boomtown, Tavern on the Avenue, Blue Bricks and South Saloon, at least that's what I think the last place was called. We woke up Monday morning and went back out to the field for the 9-11 practice and it was hot! It was already 88 degrees by noon. We left Mankato just before 1 pm and was back about 2:30 pm. As always, it was fun to be in Mankato. It's just the start of what's coming up for the next 6 months! Enjoy the many pictures!